The four mentor and disciples waited quietly outside the valley.
Not long after.
From the dense fog ahead came a ripple in the array, and the thick mist parted to both sides, revealing a broad and level bluestone avenue.
A few young disciples of the Mao Family, who held swords, stood solemnly on either side.
In front of them, a graceful figure in a light green long skirt, with an increasingly gentle and ethereal demeanor, couldn’t hide her excitement as she quickly stepped forward to meet them.
"Brother Ye! Is it really you??"
At the moment she saw Chen Ye, a bright light burst in Mao Qingzhu’s beautiful eyes.
She hadn’t expected that,
They had just parted in Hunyuan City not long ago, and Brother Ye would come looking for her today.
Previously,
Brother Ye hadn’t bothered with her for a long time...
But soon, her gaze involuntarily moved downward, landing on a small figure peering out from under a large cloak.
Before Chen Ye could exchange greetings.
"Aunt Mao!"
A little girl, who had just been shouting on the flying boat about having a "headache" and being "unwilling," rushed out and hugged Mao Qingzhu’s leg, looking up and calling sweetly,
"Aunt Mao, Qing Jun missed you so much! Did you prepare any delicious spirit fruit for Qing Jun?"
Well, in front of snacks, all alliances and principles were thrown away by this little gluttonous dragon.
Being hit made Mao Qingzhu step back a bit. She quickly squatted down and hugged the cute and pretty Little Qing Jun into her arms:
"I prepared them, Auntie had them ready for you long ago."
The Mao Family disciples nearby were not surprised by this.
The relationship between Mao Qingzhu and Qing Jun was no secret.
Every cultivator in the Mao Family knew of their situation.
Xiaoli smiled broadly and winked at Chen Ye:
"Grandmaster Chen, it’s rare for you to visit our Divine Mist Valley, why not stay a few more days?"
"Ahem. A guest from afar, Xiaoli’s words make sense."
From behind these Mao Family cultivators came a deliberate-sounding cough.
A lean middle-aged man walked out slowly.
It was none other than Mao Qingzhu’s father, Mao Cheng.
Mao Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, stern-faced, and looking serious:
"Our Mao Family is traditionally hospitable, Instructor Chen might as well stay a few days? The Sword Intent in the Heart Slaughter Cave is extraordinary, you might take this opportunity to comprehend it."
Hospitable?
Chen Ye twitched the corner of his mouth.
Who doesn’t know that your Mao Family has always been reclusive and they are generally lazy to meet outsiders...
As for the Mao Family cultivators still addressing him as Instructor,
Chen Ye wasn’t surprised.
He had just become the Peak Master yesterday, and with the Mao Family being reclusive and not well-informed, they probably didn’t know about it yet.
Chen Ye cupped his hands and said, "Senior Mao is too polite. However, Chen has other important matters on this trip, and I fear I can’t stay."
"Important matters? If that’s the case, I won’t force you."
Mao Cheng seemed a bit disappointed, and he glanced nonchalantly at Qing Jun,
"Hmm? This must be Instructor Chen’s disciple, Xu Qingjun, right? Hmm... why hasn’t she grown... cough cough, the child is at an age for growing, Instructor shouldn’t neglect providing for her."
This girl,
why hasn’t she grown at all??
Mao Cheng felt a tightening in his heart.
Qingzhu is tall, so naturally, her daughter wouldn’t be short, especially since Qing Jun lives on Lingyin Mountain, where the spiritual Qi is abundant for growth.
Could it be...
Chen Ye doesn’t feed the child at all?
Chen Ye chuckled dryly: "Of course, she won’t be neglected, she’s well-fed and hydrated daily. Senior Mao might observe my other two disciples... perhaps Qing Jun is just unique."
Mao Cheng didn’t like that remark.
Was it implying there’s something wrong with the Mao Family’s bloodline?
"Hello, Grandpa Mao!" Qing Jun poked her head out from Mao Qingzhu’s embrace and called out sweetly.
That call of grandpa made Mao Cheng feel both comfortable and uncomfortable.
By right, she shouldn’t call him grandpa.
He maintained composure, putting on a serious demeanor:
"Hmm, Qing Jun is getting more beautiful and more lovely, and... cough cough, Mao Qingzhu! What’s with your careless manner? Quickly release Qing Jun, don’t let Little Friend Chen laugh at my Mao Family."
Mao Qingzhu felt aggrieved, reluctantly letting go of Qing Jun.
The little girl immediately ran to Mao Cheng, blinking her watery big eyes, looking pitifully at him, appearing as aggrieved as possible:
"Thank you, Grandpa Mao, for the compliments... Grandpa Mao, waah, waah, Qing Jun is so hungry."
This little girl is cunning and mischievous!
Chen Ye rolled his eyes to the side, watching the girl who had already eaten quite a few snacks on the flying boat now pretending to be pitiful to get more food.
But Mao Cheng couldn’t resist this kind of tactic, scrambling to take out a lustrous jade box from his sleeve and directly giving it to Qing Jun, speaking in a nonchalant tone:
"This is the Water Jade Ice Heart Fruit I found at the lake bottom recently. Although it’s a Second Tier Spirit Fruit, it would just spoil in the valley. Since you’re here, take it as a snack, lest others say our Mao Family doesn’t treat guests well, unable to even provide food for a child."
Qing Jun opened the jade box, glanced at the rare spirit fruit brimming with spiritual Qi, and her eyes immediately lit up, smiling sweetly:
"Thank you, Grandpa Mao! Grandpa Mao is the best!"
Upon hearing the compliment, Mao Cheng’s tight, thin cheeks twitched slightly, his mouth almost uncontrollably curling up into a wide smile.
He coughed twice, trying to cover up his satisfaction.
His granddaughter’s stature hadn’t grown, but her sweet mouth certainly hadn’t diminished, unlike her serious master.
Thinking of this, Mao Cheng reluctantly moved his gaze from Qing Jun and looked at Chen Ye.
However, upon a closer look,
This sharp-eyed Patriarch Mao, his pupils suddenly shrank.